Right to Read Week at St. Mary’s

By Doug Heckler

Right to read week is a National event scheduled for late April, but to ease the winter the staff at St. Mary of the Assumption School decided to hold it the week of Feb. 23-28.  This coincided with the Book Fair from Scholastic Books being held on premises.  The Book Fair was available after Mass all weekend to anyone and each day Monday-Thursday before school and immediately after school.  The proceeds made from the book fair will go to purchase new books for the school’s library.

Based on educational values, reading was promoted to the students to demonstrate that reading fiction or nonfiction can be enjoyable and educational.

On Monday, the incentive of being allowed to “pie” a teacher or staff member in the face on Friday was introduced. Grades K-2 were to read and record the books read thru the week while grades 3 through 6 were to record the number of pages read in a log. Additionally, students were asked to create a scene or the cover for their favorite book, which will be displayed in the hallway. Tuesday found the students dressed as their favorite character from books. Wednesday, a DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) day was declared whereby older students paired with younger students for partner reading. On Thursday, each class had an SSR (Self Selected Reading) day period with silent or partner reading for twenty minutes. During these sessions, the principal, Dan Metzger (who was mysteriously absent for the pie-in-the-face festivities) visited the classrooms passing

out “I LOVE READING” and “Reading stretches your mind” bracelets to each student. On Friday, the pie in the face contest winners, one from each grade, carried out their duties to spread a little whipped cream and chocolate syrup on their chosen teachers or staff members.